Chamber Blog

Brainerd City Council – January 4, 2010

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The City Council scheduled its annual retreat for Monday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall and agreed that it will be televised and last no more than two hours.

They also approved pursuing a request to amend the liquor zone area west of the East Brainerd Mall (Cub Foods) to include the old County Market building. The realtor for the property stated in a letter that allowing alcohol to be served on the property would make it more desirable for redevelopment by restaurants. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The City Council accepted with regret the resignation of Bob Sherman from the Planning Commission and the Transportation Commission.

The Specialty Food Shop saga continues. The issue is whether or not to allow coffee bean roasting in specialty food shops (i.e. coffee shops). The City Planner brought two versions of the zoning ordinance amendment before the City Council. Both versions add Specialty Food Shops to the Neighborhood Business District (B-2) as a conditional use, however only one version allowed on-site coffee roasting. The City Council approved holding a public hearing for the ordinance amendment which would not allow coffee bean roasting in Specialty Food Shops.

“To roast or not to roast, that is the question.” –Mark Ostgarden, City Planner